Network Interface Packet Filtering for Power Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices face challenges in managing power efficiency, particularly when connected to networks, as they often require processing incoming network traffic, which can lead to increased power consumption and reduced battery life in portable devices.

Innovation Solution

Configuring the network interface to process incoming packets independently of the main processor, allowing it to determine actions such as immediate notification, queuing, or dropping packets based on criteria set by the operating system, thereby reducing unnecessary processing and power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the main processor processes all incoming network packets, then network traffic handling capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork traffic handling capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network interface is divided into two processing paths: a fast path handled by dedicated network interface circuitry for routine packets, and a slow path handled by the main processor for exceptional packets requiring complex processing. This segmentation allows the processor to remain in low-power states longer while maintaining high network throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A packet filtering component is introduced as an intermediary between the network interface and the processor. This filter component examines incoming packets and selectively passes only those requiring processor attention, allowing the processor to sleep longer and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining network handling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the processor is frequently interrupted to process incoming packets, then network responsiveness is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork responsivenessVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The packet filtering component performs preliminary examination of incoming packets before they reach the processor. By pre-filtering packets and identifying only those requiring processor attention, the system reduces the frequency of processor interrupts while maintaining network responsiveness for important traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Routine packet processing tasks are extracted from the main processor and handled by dedicated network interface circuitry. This extraction allows the processor to remain in low-power sleep modes longer, extending battery life while the network interface continues to handle routine traffic responsively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the network interface processes packets independently with filtering, then power efficiency is improved, but processing complexity of the network interface increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork interface processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complex packet processing logic is replaced with hardware-based packet filtering circuitry in the network interface. This substitution moves filtering functionality from software (processor) to hardware (network interface), improving power efficiency while the hardware complexity is managed through dedicated filtering components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8917742B2Mechanism to save system power using packet filtering by network interface

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A network interface that connects a computing device to a network may be configured to process incoming packets and determine an action to take with respect to each packet, thus decreasing processing demands on a processor of the computing device. The action may be indicating the packet to an operating system of the computing device immediately, storing the packet in a queue of one or more queues or discarding the packet. When the processor is interrupted, multiple packets aggregated on the network interface may be indicated to the operating system all at once to increase the device's power efficiency. Hardware of the network interface may be programmed to process the packets using filter criteria specified by the operating system based on information gathered by the operating system, such as firewall rules.